RPG FFVIII: Eye of the Hurricane

[Flash]

I would've had this done an hour or two earlier, but I found some Japanese Dating games and... Well, you get where that leads.

[I]Flash ran down the corridoor, passing alot of students as he goes... Most of them just smile as he sprints past, while most of the male students eye him suspiciously.. He makes a left down the end of the hallway, arriving at the main hub. He ran across the circular lobby, and into a large archway with a sign saying 'Garage' across the top... As he runs down the corridoor, someone steps out in front of him... It happens so fast, he doesn't have time to stop. The two collide, both crashing to the ground... Flash shakes his head, and gets up, whilst the other props himself up on his hands, and then stands up slowly.. The man in front of him is None other than Locky Dune, most commonly known as Warlock... Warlock brushes himself off, and Flash folds his arms..[/I]

Flash: Don't you have a class now, Dune?

Warlock: I was just, uhh... Nothing, erm, Mr. Murakumo... Sir..

Flash: Heh, cut with the Sir crap, Warlock.

Warlock: Heh... Just keeping in place, I guess.

Flash: Anyway.. I guess you were planning on heading over to Balamb too...

Warlock: Yeah, I hear SeeD is sending a small taskforce to Dollet..

Flash: Oh really? I was just heading there so I could catch the train across to the mainland... I hadn't heard of a taskforce.

Warlock: I'm suprised you didn't know, quite a few instructors from Trabia are going..

Flash: Anyone I know?

Warlock: Well, there's me, Craig, Demos...

Flash: Demos? You mean Neil?

Warlock: Yeah, right.

Flash: Hmm. He'd better not cause any trouble..

[I]Flash feels a tapping on his shoulder. He spins around, and sees Neil, looking at him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk on his face.. Flash grins back, a joking look on his face...[/I]

Flash: Heh.. Neil, you'd better not cause as much ruckus as you did on our last little excursion...

Neil: Heh heh... Gotcha. Nothing over the top.. Unless I have to.

Warlock: Right.

Flash: Where's Craig?

[I]A figure walks down the corridoor... White vest, black pants, spikey brown hair... Warlock nods to signal Craig's arrival...[/I]

Neil: Craig, you're here at last...

Craig: Hmm? Flash, you coming too?

Flash: Yeah... This might cause some problems... 4 instructors all leaving..

Warlock: Nope, I already checked it with the Headmaster. We're all good to go... Except for you, Flash.

Flash: Heh... I'm Head of Staff, I'll do what I like.

[I]Flash smiles, and walks towards the main garage door, beckoning the others over his shoulder... They all follow, down the well-lit corridoor, past the occasional student, into the dark, cold garage. Flash leads them to a large vehicle, some kind of hovering APC, and nods... Sliding open a large door on the side, the SeeD instructors get in, one by one...[/I]

[James]

[i]Z. Chang sat in his office, behind his desk. On the desk was a large, flat plasma screen with the rest of the year's curriculum on it.

Chang had spent the last week preparing the curriculum for Galbadia Garden. Unfortunately, he was continually interrupted by Headmasters from other Gardens around the world; Chang was known as "the face of Galbadia Garden". He took it upon himself to travel to the other Gardens to survey their operations. Both his age and senior position were factors in this, but the Headmaster of Galbadia Garden had thought it a good idea to continue on this course of action.

And thus, the Headmaster rarely every left the Garden. He left the travelling to Chang.

Chang continued working away on his touch screen monitor, his hands moving silently over its surface as he concentrated.

He heard a slight "whoosh" sound from the other side of his office. Cringing, he looked up over his monitor. Walking toward him was his secretary, Karuna.[/i]

[b]Karuna:[/b] Mr. Chang, good morning.

[b]Z. Chang:[/b] Morning, Karuna. What is so important that you need to disturb me while I'm working on the year's curriculum?

[b]Karuna:[/b] Balamb Garden is sending a group of SeeDs to Dollet for an exercize.

[b]Z. Chang:[/b] And?

[b]Karuna:[/b] Headmaster Cid invited you to have dinner with him and some other senior staff from Trabia Garden. He wants you to be in attendance when all the SeeDs leave.

[b]Z. Chang:[/b] Ugh. Can he not do anything without someone there to hold his hand?

[b]Karuna:[/b] Just delivering the message, sir...

[b]Z. Chang:[/b] Just leave it here on my desk, Karuna. I'll get to it when I can; Cid will just have to wait for a moment.

[b]Karuna:[/b] Yes sir.

[i]Karuna silently sat the note on Chang's desk and walked out of the room.

Zian Chang was indeed considered to be a cold man by most of the students at Galbadia Garden. However, Galbadia Garden was different from the other Gardens; it was situated in Gaia's largest nation: Galbadia. And as such, it had a huge number of students.

Most students had never even seen the Headmaster, and most knew that Mr. Chang spent a great deal of time at other Gardens.

Z. Chang switched off his monitor. He stood up and collected his coat.

Even though he really didn't want to have dinner with Headmaster Cid and other senior instructors, he knew he had no choice.

He leant over and touched a keypad on his desk, which automatically turned the lights off. And then he silently exited the room and headed for the Landing Dock...[/i]

[Yoda]

[I]Once all the SeeD instructors have boarded, the doors slides shut, and airlock's tight. Slowly a blue glow emitted from the base of the craft, and it rose into the air. Slowly it moved down the road, and out of the garage exit, flying upwards as it came into the open.

Inside, the instructor's all took their seats. They were all great instructors, and all swordsmen of right, but it wasn't hard to see just how different they all were from each other.
Craig just sat, staring at the ceiling, joining in the conversation as often as he could, but never moving an inch.
Neil kept mainly silent...... all throughout the journey his eyes seemed to glaze over into 'that' look.... everyone had seen that look at one point, the look that would turn the Devil's blood cold. Warlock kept fumbling at the handle of his gunblade, and joined in the conversation quite a lot.
Flash kept looking at his hands and wrists, and occasionally he'd check his sword.

They all seemed to be psyching themselves up for battle, keeping their minds off it in different ways. They all seemed to forget that they were having dinner with several other instructors and headmasters at Balamb garden.

Warlock: I think they said the Galbadia headmaster would be there.

Flash: What? ......... that Chang guy?

Warlock: Yeah...... I think so. He's more or less the complete opposite to our headmaster......

Craig: Ah, so his sex won't be an undisclosed matter?

Flash: Heh, I don't think so.....

Warlock: Well it will be interesting to meet him anyway.[/I]

[Kain]

Jubei sat on the boat silently and listened to the mission breifing.The instructor finishes and Jubei is assigned as the leader of Squad A.

Jubei: Listen everyone.Just listen to my orders and we'll leave this place unscathed.That's all I have to say to you all.

Instructor: I'll be leaving as soon as we land at Dollet.So good
luck.

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson][i]Ken jumped in his hover vehicle... What was it called? Whatever. His Girlfriend had gotten it for him. He wasnt much into vehicles and such, but it sure as hell helped him get from job to job fast enogh.[/i]

Ken: Right Right... So... I have to go as a guard with the SeeD Trainees to Dollet... and my pay is lower than a busboys... God forsake it why I help out the gardens...

[i]Ken shook his head and pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and started on his way to Balamb...[/i][/color]

[James]

[i]Z. Chang entered Galbadia Garden's main Flight Dock. The dock was enormous -- it was at least one kilometer in width and stretched around 1/4 of the Garden's hull.

Just near the entrance was a large vessel which was hovering silently. It was completely black, with red patterns all over it. The patterns were similar to those found on the Garden's exterior.

The large sliding door was open and the pilot and co-pilot of the vessel were standing there drinking cups of coffee.

When they saw Z. Chang approaching with his briefcase in hand, they immediately threw their coffees away and climbed into the front cab section.

Chang climbed into the rear cab of the vehicle and sat in a black leather chair in the center of the cab. The door slid shut immediately.

He leaned back in his chair slightly and pressed a button on the arm.

Within seconds, a large touch-screen monitor had slid down from the ceiling infront of him.

He decided that if he was going to attend this function at Balamb Garden, at least he'd be able to get some work done on the way there...[/i]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=seagreen][i]Sabirsing stood by the road, hands resting on her hips. Her last journey had been rewarding, but it was time for another job.....weather it was hunting or tracking, she had no problem with carrying out her assingments...even if it meant working with the gardens. Soon, a hoverbike crossed the path and Sabirsing noted the driver.....he slowed, and stopped.[/i]

Ken: What are you doing here?

Sabir: Waiting for a taxi. :rolleyes:

Ken: Going to Balamb?

Sabir: Or any other place where I can find a job.

[i]She shrugged and shifted her backpack to her right shoulder.[/i][/COLOR]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]Ken: You know... I got a semi dangerous Job in Balamb... Pay is Average... I bet if you helped, I could get you a fair amount of cash as well... if you're interested that is...

[i]Ken glanced over at her, waiting for a reply...[/i][/color]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=seagreen][i]Sabirsing watched him talk, then drew her blade half way...testing the edge with her thumb....[/i]

Ken: Well?

Sabir: Could'ja give me a lift?

Ken: Is that a yes?

Sabir: Sure.[/COLOR]

[Flash]

[I]Flash glanced out the window... They were about to hit the water. These new ATVs that had been purchased earlier in the year were a valuable asset to Trabia Garden... Having 10 of them made access alot easier for the students and staff to get between cities... And now, once more, they were proving invaluable in getting to Balamb. The panels on the bottom of the transport shone blue as it slid smoothly into the water... It floated amazingly, keeping speed and buoyancy no matter what the conditions were like... It seemed to ignore the waves, cutting through the swells. At this speed they'd be in Balamb by 5:30pm at the latest... That's about an hour, thought Flash... He leaned back in his seat, and stared at the roof. He didn't like the idea of taking anyone else but his comrades along with him... He didn't want to endanger the lives of any SeeD cadets, and also, he wanted the job done right... Something he knew his Staff could do... But then again, there were only 4 of them... Perhaps they would need some extra help... Meh, it doesn't matter. I'll see what happens when we reach Balamb Garden, Flash said to himself. He closed his eyes, and dozed off, whilst the ATV Hover Transport sped silently across the ocean...[/I]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]Ken: *nods* A lift? Sure. Hop aboard...

[i]Ken pushed a few buttons on the hover bike, and it lowered to the ground in a low 'Vummm'. Dust lifted up as the Bike sat down, and Ken scooted up a bit to give her plenty of room to sit down...[/i][/color]

[Kain]

Instructor: One more thing...there will be a couple of extra people coming along on this excursion.

Jubei: As long as they don't try to get in my way it's fine with me...

Member of Squad'A': Who are they sir?

Instructor: A few are bounty hunters and the others are Instructors at Trabia Garden.

Jubei:...hmph...

[Warlock]

[I]Sighing, Warlock glanced out the window, watching as the waves rolled past... Standing up, Warlock edged his way to the back of the APC, his boots making a soft tapping... Reaching a few small footsholds stuck onto the back wall, Warlock reached above his head, pulling a handle which opened a small hatch on the roof... Placing his feet in the footholds, Warlock climbed up so half of his body was outside the APC, and watched as the waves rolled by... As he began to go back down due to the annoyance of having so much droplets of water been smashed into his face, he noticed a small landmass beginging to appear on the horizon...[/i]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=seagreen][i]Sabirsing climbed on lightly and held his waist tightly. Ken grinned and gunned the motor, and they shot off....[/i]

Ken: So, where you from?

Sabir: ....places. I drift.

Ken: Mercenary?

Sabir: When there's nobody evil to hunt. ;)

Ken: Ah. Can you actually use that sabre?

Sabir: Want to find out?

Ken: Not right now.[/COLOR]

[Flash]

Flash: Okay everyone... We're approaching Balamb.

[i]Everyone shows some sign of recognition, some nodding, some making a sound, some gesturing... Flash turns and looks to the main screen... There it was, Balamb... Peaceful, Tranquil... Balamb was a little piece of paradise. Forests, Mountains, Beaches... A real getaway from the troubles of the east. Flash smirked as the island came closer and closer into view, until they finally reached it. The APC swung around the island, and headed for the shoreline. The noise of the main hover panels kicking in could easily be heard throughout the vehicle, as it hovered up over the sand, and onto the grass... After a few minutes, they were on the road, and pulling into Balamb Garden... The APC entered the garage, and lowered to the ground... With a small clank and hissing of valves, the door slid open, and Flash stepped out first.[/i]

Flash: We're here..

[Flash]

Excuse me for being intrusive, but I'm ever-so-slightly confused as to how you got from Trabia snowfields to Balamb Garden on a hoverbike... :whoops:

[Kain]

Jubei sees the boat pull up and takes his squad to go meet them.

Jubei: *Jubei salutes them* Jubei Yagyu of Balamb Garden.Captain of Squad A.

Flash: Nice to meet you.I'm Flash from Trabia Garden...an Instructor.Are you a Seed Candidate?

Jubei: No i'm a Seed Member.

[James]

[i]The black and red hovercraft from Galbadia Garden lumbered its way up the beach, just behind Balamb Garden's main carport.

The large vehicle made its way across the street and directly into the carport.

Z. Chang pressed a button to retract the video screen infront of him and he did a last check of his briefcase, to ensure that everything was in order.

By the time he had done this, the vessel had stopped. It was now sitting in the VIP parking lot, adjacent to a hovercraft which looked like it had come from Trabia Garden.

The large side-door slid open silently and Z. Chang stepped out, straightening his black and red oriental suit.

He reached into his pocket and removed a pair of sunglasses (which were incidentally fitted with various sensors/viewing modes). Then he put them on carefully and looked around.

Instructors from several different faculties were standing in groups around the VIP carport, all discussing the year's cirriculum with each other. Several were displaying new magic tricks and weapons to others, while some were busily writing down notes, not taking the time to greet their fellow colleagues.

Z. Chang sighed and began walking toward the main entrance to the Garden's hub. He wanted to meet Headmaster Cid and get it all over and done with...[/i]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson][i]The hoverbike slowed to a stop at the beach, and Ken looked out scanning the horizon...[/i]

Sabir: Looking for something?

Ken: Yea... My friend... He's a fisherman. He was gonna take us over to the Balamb Continent.... But I cant se-... Nevermind. There he is.

[i]Ken pointed out to his left, and a medium sized boat was sitting there, anchor down. A smaller boat had been lowered, and a middle aged man was getting into it. He reved the engine, and the small boat headed twards the beach...[/i][/color]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue]It's a special hoverbike. -_- Don't ask me, I'm just the passenger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/COLOR]
[COLOR=seagreen]Sabir: Oh no.

Ken: What?

Sabir: I get seasick.

Ken: It'll be an adventure. :D

Sabir: Yeah, you get to watch me toss my cookies...and I didn't even eat any cookies...[/COLOR]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]Its Ken's Hoverbike! *does a pose* It can do anything! -.-' Right. Whatever....
------------

Ken: Well. I dont think there would be any other way to get there.

FisherMan: AHOY KEN!

Ken: Oh. Hey Jay.

Jay: Looks like ye got anuther passenger, eh?

Ken: Yea. This is... err... Sabir, wasnt it?

Sabir: Yea. Nice to meet you Jay...

Ken: Right well. *rubs hands together* Lets load this thing...

[i]Ken and Jay lifted and set the hoverbike in the middle of the small raft, and Ken heped Sabir in, While Jay got the engine ready..[/i]

Jay: I hope none of ye are seasick or anything! Seas are mighty rough today...

[i]And with that, Jay turned the Engine on, the boat skimming across the surface, headed back to the boat...[/i]

Jay: So.. What are you doing going to Balamb again Ken? Going to see your family, finally?

Ken: .......... No. Its a job.

Jay: ... Why dont ye visit your sister or sumthin?

Ken: ... My Parents dont 'approve' of my work. I'm never going back to that house... So drop it Jay.

Jay: .... Aye.

[i]Silence fell for a few seconds, and Ken stared at the sea...[/i]

Jay: ... Sorry Ken. Didnt mean to bring back painful memories.

Ken: .....

Jay: Er... Well. How did you come about meeting this young lady?

Ken: She was standing in the middle of nowhere. So I stopped and asked her if she needed a lift, and somehow I mentioned the job, and asked her if she wanted to come along...

Jay: oh... Well. Young Lady, any friend o Ken's is a friend of mine! *hearty laugh*

[i]The Boat Begin to Slow, and it came to a stop with a light jerk at the side of the Boat. Both of the Men began attaching the lift to it, and Jay pushed a button, and a mechanical clicking noise was heard. Slowly, The boat began to rise up into the boat...[/i]

Jay: I'll show ye your Quarters, and give ye a tour of the boat, miss. Ken knows this boat too well...

Sabir: And after that?...

Jay: Well. I guess we'll get on our way after that.

[i]The boat began to lower on the deck of the ship. Within seconds, a light thud registered they were on the boat...[/i]

Jay: *jumps off the small boat* Come on. To your quarters!

Sabir: He doenst like to waste time, Does he?

Ken: You get use to it after awhile. Trust me....

Sabir: Lets get to our quarters...

[i]Ken and Sabir follow Jay, who was already going down below...[/i][/color]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=seagreen]Sabir: Lovely place.

Ken: ;)

Jay: Glad ye like it Missey.

Sabir: My name is Sabir.[/COLOr]

[Warlock]

[i] Stepping out of the APC, Warlock took a glance of the garage... He walked forward, and Flash came out from behind him, followed by Craig, and finally Neil... [/i]

Craig: "So, this is the place..."

Warlock: "Yep."

[i] Walking forward, Warlock noticed the red and black hovercraft which had just pulled up right next to the APC, and watched as a man stepped out, straightening his black and red suit... As the man began putting a pair of sunglasses on, Warlock lightly elbowed Neil in the ribs...[/i]

Warlock: "Hey, isn't that the Galbadia Deputy-Headmaster?"

Neil: "...Yes."

[James]

[i]Z. Chang approached the large double doors which led directly to the hub of Balamb Garden.

They opened as he neared them; the two guards standing by the door didn't bother to check his briefcase. They knew who he was.

He strode along the pathway toward the central staircase, which led to the Garden's elevators. He'd planned on visiting Headmaster Cid in his office momentarily and then making his way to the VIP quarters to relax until dinner time.

Z. Chang kept his eyes forward, but in his peripheral vision, he noticed several other senior staff from Trabia Garden. They appeared to be watching him. The Trabia Garden staff held his attention only momentarily, as his gaze returned to the central hub that he was approaching. He continued walking toward the elevator...[/i]

[Flash]

[b]Flash:[/b] Yeah, that's him alright... Deputy Headmaster at Galbadia Garden... Z. Chang... He's a cold man..

[b]Warlock:[/b] I see... Deputy Headmaster, huh?

[b]Flash:[/b] Yeah, he's my equal...

[b]Neil:[/b] *raises eyebrow* So Head of Staff is the same as Deputy Headmaster?

[b]Flash:[/b] ...Sorta... They're on the same level of the heirachy, so to speak..

[b]Craig:[/b] Gotcha. I'll take it we meet in Cid's Office?

[b]Flash:[/b] No, we'll be meeting with the other parties in the Operations room... That's where Garden Master Norg used to reside...

[b]Craig:[/b] Ahh, got it...

[b]Flash:[/b] Well then, Gentlemen... I suggest we get a move on.

[I]Flash walks foward, OmniElemental slung across his back, the massive platinum blade appearing even brighter against the pitch black of his coat... Craig, Neil, and Warlock follow him, as they walk down the long corridoor, towards the central hub of Balamb Garden. Flash gives the guards a quick nod as he passes them, and enters the hub... The Garden seems cheerful, Cadets and SeeD members walking around freely, chatting and playing cards... Hardly any of them, if any at all, knew of the impending chaos, or the meeting that so many were here to attend... Flash led the group up the main steps, to the elevator... He pushed the button, and waited... The elevator was already at Floor 3... After a few seconds, it arrived back at ground level, and the group stepped in. Like Chang, Flash also planned on visiting Cid...[/I]